Hanny Henry
The bye-election for the Ganye Constituency seat in the Adamawa State House of Assembly was conducted peacefully on Saturday, with a massive voter turnout recorded across all polling units in the Local Government Area.
Accreditation and voting commenced promptly at 8:30 a.m. in most locations, with voters arriving early to exercise their civic duty. Voting officially ended at 2:30 p.m., though electoral officials confirmed that all voters on the queue at the time were allowed to cast their ballots, in line with INEC guidelines.
Security personnel were visibly stationed at every polling unit, ensuring a peaceful atmosphere throughout the exercise.
Only two political parties the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) participated in the election. Vote counting began immediately after the close of polls, with early figures indicating that the APC is maintaining a lead in several polling units.
Minor disruptions were reported in two polling stations due to technical glitches with voting machines, but these were swiftly resolved by electoral officials, allowing voting to proceed without significant delays.
The bye-election was necessitated by the death of Hon. Abdulmalik Jauro, the APC lawmaker who previously represented the constituency and served as Deputy Minority Leader in the Adamawa State House of Assembly. His passing in May last year created a vacuum that both parties are keen to fill.
Despite the calm conduct of the election, political tensions remained. The PDP, which regards Ganye as a traditional stronghold, alleged that the APC engaged in vote buying.
Speaking at a polling centre, Ahmed Shehu, Adamawa PDP Chairman claimed that food items and cash were being distributed to voters.
“We have told our people to accept whatever APC is giving them but to make the right choice,” Shehu stated.
In response, Dahiru Hammandikko APC national monitoring committee member, dismissed the allegations as baseless.
“We hear of such things all the time, but in this by-election, it is certainly unfounded. The APC will win in a free and fair contest,” he said.c
Colation of results is ongoing, with the APC appearing to maintain its electoral margin in key areas of the constituency.
Observers and residents alike commended the peaceful nature of the poll, which many hope will serve as a model for future elections in the state.
